Madigan, attorneys general urge Congress to act on immigration reform

CHICAGO — Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan (D) was joined by a bipartisan group of 34 other state and territorial attorneys general in urging U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and congressional leaders to pursue comprehensive federal immigration reform.

In a joint letter, the attorneys general stated their support for a law enforcement strategy that focuses on public safety, targets serious crime, safeguards witnesses and victims, and considers national security implications.

“The time is now for immigration reform,” Madigan said. “With a more comprehensive, effective system in place, we can help to make our communities safer. It’s time for Congress to come together on this most pressing national issue.”

Madigan and her counterpart attorneys general called for a reasonable and predictable regulatory environment that considers the interests of, and the unintended consequences to, businesses, workers and consumers. They noted that a broader reform effort should eventually include a way to accurately, reliably and affordably determine who is permitted to work, ensuring an adequate labor force for a growing economy.

“We thank Attorney General Madigan for joining a bi-partisan group of state attorney generals, representing the overwhelming majority of the highest state-level law enforcement officers in the U.S., to push for sensible immigration reform,” said Lawrence Benito, CEO of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

The attorneys general recognized that immigration policy is primarily a federal responsibility, and pledged to lend their voice and expertise to federal legislators as they move forward in this process.